images of

Thanks, Walt, for your inspiring leadership. Thanks for believing in us. We’ve loved working with you.

—Employees of The Walt Disney Company

So, Walt, I guess you asked for it. Here is a picture history of your time leading the Walt Disney Company.

“Of all of our inventions for mass communication, pictures still speak the most universally understood language.”

-Walt Disney

c o n t e n t s

Introduction

Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio thru Walt Disney Productions

The Walt Disney Company

Disneyland Grand Opening

Images

Press Releases

Farewell Notes & Remarks from Colleagues

This introduction page will show the message you’d like for your retiring executive.

1950Walt Disney sitting in front of a backdrop filled with Disney creations for a Life Magazine photoshoot.

1941Walt and Disney artists known as “El Grupo” on a South American goodwill tour.

1939 Walt and Peter Stackpole

Your Images will capture snapshots of your executive’s career.

To all who come to this happy place;

welcome. Disneyland is your land.

Here age relives fond memories of the

past ... and here youth may savor the

challenge and promise of the future.

Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals,

the dreams and the hard facts that

have created America ... with the hope

that it will be a source of joy and

inspiration to all the world.

WALT DISNEY - JULY 18, 1955

 DISNEYLAND ONE YEAR OLD       Disneyland concludes its first year of operation this week with attendance at the Magic Kingdom in Anaheim nearing the 4 million mark.       At the end of the day on July 17 of this year, 3,642,597 persons had toured Walt Disney’s playland, making it the largest single private enterprise attraction in the Western Hemisphere and “a complete success” according to the Park’s management.       Disneyland has scored high with tourists visiting the Southland. An estimated 1,493,465 or 41% of the Park’s guests being drawn from outside this state.       Included in the out-of-state guests were visitors from 64 of the earth’s nations, including such far-off places as Saudi Arabia, Iceland, Liechtenstein and even the Soviet Union.       Intermingled with Disneyland’s guests have been notables and celebrities from the worlds of government, politics and industry. The roster of celebrities who have been to Disneyland reads like a Who’s Who of entertainment. Guests from the government have included Vice-President Nixon with his family who toured the Park soon after the July 18 opening. A more recent visitor was President Sukarno of Indonesia. Dr. Sukarno on a state visit to the United States, made Disneyland one of his stopping places in Southern California.       Proof that Disneyland’s appeal has been to persons of all pages is furnished by a breakdown of attendance statistics gathered during the first year which revealed that four adults have visited here for every child.       Average expenditure of Disneyland’s guests for the first year was $2.37 per person. This figure includes parking, admission, rides, amusements and Disneyland souvenirs.       Attendance during this first full summer season has equaled and surpassed records set during last July and August. For the week ending July 15, 148,729 persons toured the Park. Since June 1, a total of 768,425 guests have passed through the turnstiles.       Certain of the Park’s rides have proved especially popular with the visitors. These have included the Peter Pan dark ride in Fantasyland, the Adventureland Jungle River Boat Ride, the Santa Fe and Disneyland trains, and the Autopia Freeway’s miniature autos in Tomorrowland.       During the year the Park’s operation has undergone a number of improvements aimed at increasing the guests’ enjoyment.       Free exhibits at Disneyland now number 21 compared to a total of 11 available last July. And today the Park offers 33 rides and amusements, seven more than when the Park was opened.       Some of these new rides, part of an overall $2 million expansion program recently completed, include the Disneyland Skyway, the Rainbow Caverns Mine Train Ride, the Indian Village and War Canoes, Storybook Land and Tom Sawyer’s Island.       In keeping with Walt Disney’s policy, the Park will continue to expand and refine its operation to offer unparalleled entertainment to its millions of visitors each year.       Scheduled for opening next Spring will be the “House of Tomorrow” sponsored by the Monsanto Chemical Company, one of the Park’s exhibitors. Other new attractions will be revealed early this fall, with construction to be finished in time for the 1957 summer season.

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July 18, 1956

“I am interested in entertaining people, in bringing pleasure, particularly laughter, to others, . . .”

Add memorable press releases and stories from your executives’ career.

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”

1952

1964Walt, on the right, sings “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” with Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman.

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A list of Oscars awarded to Walt Disney

1932: Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Flowers and Trees (1932)

1932: Honorary Award for: creation of Mickey Mouse.

1934: Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Three Little Pigs (1933)

1935: Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: The Tortoise and the Hare (1934)

1936: Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Three Orphan Kittens (1935)

1937: Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: The Country Cousin (1936)

1938: Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: The Old Mill (1937)

1939: Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Ferdinand the Bull (1938)

1939: Honorary Award for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

The citation read: “For Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, recognized as a significant screen

innovation which has charmed millions and pioneered a great new entertainment field” (the

award was one statuette and seven miniature statuettes)

1940: Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Ugly Duckling (1939)

1941: Honorary Award for: Fantasia (1940), shared with: William E. Garity and

J.N.A. Hawkins. The citation for the certificate of merit read: “For their outstanding contribution to

the advancement of the use of sound in motion pictures through the production of Fantasia”

1942: Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Lend a Paw (1941)

1943: Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Der Fuehrer’s Face (1942)

1949: Best Short Subject, Two-reel for: Seal Island (1948)

1949: Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award

1951: Best Short Subject, Two-reel for: Beaver Valley (1950)

1952: Best Short Subject, Two-reel for: Nature’s Half Acre (1951)

1953: Best Short Subject, Two-reel for: Water Birds (1952)

1954: Best Documentary, Features for: The Living Desert (1953)

1954: Best Documentary, Short Subjects for: The Alaskan Eskimo (1953)

1954: Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Toot Whistle Plunk and Boom (1953)

1954: Best Short Subject, Two-reel for: Bear Country (1953)

1955: Best Documentary, Features for: The Vanishing Prairie (1954)

1956: Best Documentary, Short Subjects for: Men Against the Arctic

1959: Best Short Subject, Live Action Subjects for: Grand Canyon

1939 Walt Disney receiving Honorary Award for Snow White. Award presented by Shirley Temple.

What milestones, awards, and achievements did you enjoy during their time in office?

Walt,It has been a pleasure to work with you. The confidence you instilled in the creative team carried us through the tough times. I take great pride in knowing I worked with you. Thanks for all the lessons you taught me.

Jamie NelsonImagineering

WaltI am new here. I just began working as a ride

operator in Disneyland. For me, the joy of working for a company that cares about its family

means the world to me. I wish you well in life.

Trent EdwardsDisneyland Staff

WaltGood luck in your future endeavors. It was great meeting you at the Anaheim meeting last fall. Ben has some big shoes to fill. I admire your diligence, hard work, and passion over the years.

Randy SandersCorporate Communications

I was a member of the filming crew in Tobago as we were filming for Swiss Family Robinson. There was a real feeling that what we were doing was going to be great. I’ll always cherish my time in producing that film. Thanks for the great projects, thanks for the fun.

Jill HayerlyFilm Programming

WaltI want to thank you for always preaching “our

customers come first.” I felt like we’ve always been a class act. Thanks for my job! I love what I do.

Haley HillcrestDisneyland Staff

I remember meeting Mr. Disney in 1945. Never have I seen someone just “get to work” like I’ve

seen him. I think his work has made The Walt Disney Company what it is today. It’s incredible to sit back and view the empire you’ve created. I expect the best is yet to come. I wish you well in

all that your future brings.

Nicholas BelleWED Enterprises

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